Blue Plaque for Belsize Square Synagogue

June 26th, 2019

 

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) unveilied a commemorative plaque in honour of Belsize Square Synagogue on Tuesday 25 June 2019, in celebration of the synagogue’s 80th anniversary. Guests at the ceremony included descendants of founder members of the synagogue. Camden Council was represented by the council leader Georgia Gould and Councillors Richard Cotton and Neil Nerva.

Belsize Square Synagogue was founded in 1939 by Jewish refugees, the majority of whom came from Germany. It continues today as a thriving progressive Jewish community blending modernity with tradition. Many of their members are children, grand-children or great-grand-children of the founders.

AJR Trustee and Belsize Square member, Frank Harding, who devised the plaque scheme, said: “This is a special plaque in AJR’s scheme as it is dedicated to a whole community rather than a specific person, which demonstrates the significance Belsize Square Synagogue has had for many of our members. AJR continues to enjoy a close relationship with the synagogue, holding our annual Holocaust Memorial Day and Kristallnacht ceremonies there and we look forward to continuing our special bond.”

AJR have chosen this special unveiling to launch a new INTERACTIVE MAP on the AJR website which shows the location of all ten blue plaques, with information and photographs about each one.